Peter Farrelly's "I Play Rocky" premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday night, drawing enthusiastic applause and immediate awards buzz for its portrayal of Sylvester Stallone's fight to write and star in the original 1976 "Rocky". The biopic, from screenwriter Peter Gamble, is being tipped as a strong contender for TIFF's People's Choice Award and a potential Oscar player, echoing the path Farrelly's "Green Book" took to a best picture win eight years ago.

The film stars 27-year-old Anthony Ippolito as Stallone, a casting choice Farrelly said was settled instantly after seeing a self-taped audition Ippolito filmed in his grandmother's basement. Ippolito, previously known for "Grand Army" and playing a young Al Pacino in "The Offer", described spending up to two years preparing for the role. The screening was followed by a Q&A featuring Farrelly, Ippolito, Stephan James, Jay Duplass and Gamble, with the cast also including AnnaSophia Robb.